By Mercy Peter
The Minister of information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has said that public trust remains government strongest assets.
Idris warned that once credibility is eroded, it becomes extremely difficult to regain.
He therefore called for unified, coordinated and credibility-driven communication as a critical tool for restoring public trust and effectively delivering President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Idris was quod to have mad ethe call on Thursday in Abuja during an interactive session with Directors of Information and Resident Information Officers (RIOs) on Grade Levels 14–17 deployed across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The session, themed “Aligning Public Information with the Renewed Hope Agenda: Rebuilding Trust Through Effective, Transparent Communication,” brought together senior public information managers to review strategies for strengthening government messaging and engagement with citizens.
Addressing the gathering, Idris stressed that public trust remains the most valuable currency of government communication, warning that once credibility is eroded, it becomes extremely difficult to regain.
“Public trust is our most important capital. Once credibility is lost, no amount of messaging can fix it,” the Minister said.
He cautioned against fragmented narratives and parallel communication channels within government, noting that inconsistent messaging weakens institutional credibility and creates confusion among citizens.
“We are one government serving one national interest, and our communication must reflect that unity,” he added, insisting that the Federal Government must speak with a single, clear and consistent voice.
The Minister urged Resident Information Officers to position themselves as active partners in their host MDAs rather than passive observers, encouraging proactive engagement with Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and heads of agencies.
According to him, professionalism, relevance and initiative are essential qualities for information officers to earn trust, influence policy communication and effectively project government programmes.
Idris emphasised the need for timely and accurate dissemination of information, warning that delays often create a vacuum filled by false or misleading narratives.
the Minister said such freedom must be exercised responsibly to safeguard national interest and social stability.
He also outlined measures being implemented to strengthen professionalism within the information cadre, including mandatory periodic reporting, improved deployment processes, continuous capacity-building programmes and enhanced institutional support.
Idris disclosed that the Federal Government has commenced the process of restoring the National Institute of Public Information as a key platform for training and retraining public communicators to meet modern communication demands.
The Minister called for teamwork, discipline and mutual respect among information officers, reminding them of their central role in projecting government policies, programmes and achievements.
He urged participants to consistently align their work with the priorities and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in order to deepen public understanding and confidence in government.
